Manually propelled vehicle



June 17, 1952 J. M. WYCHE ET A1.

MANUALLY PROPELLED VEHICL 2 sHEETsL-SHEET '1 Filed June 17, 1949 vINVENTOR JOSEPH M-WYCHE CHRISTINE AAYCHE ATTQRNEYS June 17, 1952 J. M. WYCHE ET AL 2,600,950

MANUALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE Filed June 17, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET z JOSEPH M.WYCH E CHR\ST\ NE AWYCHE ATTORNEYS Patented June 17, 1952 UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE ALLY PROPELLED 1V CL voseiihlifV'Vyehe' and Christine A. Wyche. Dayton, Ohio AppioationJurell, 194:9,C Serial-'Noagi'gii 41 Claim. '(Cl. 28m-2&9)

The presentinvention propelled type,- particularly `to -toy wagons, and also to special types of wheel-chairs.

Various forms of hand `and `,toot operated mechanism vhave been employed in connection with-'wheel-chairs bicycles, tricycles, etc., but none of these mechanisms are suitable to the propulsion of Va ch-ilds wagon in which the total cost must be kept low :and all danger from rotating parts :must be eliminated. The self-propelling mechanism of the standard types of wheel-chairs is suited to occupants having only specific inrmities so that other patients may not be able to-selfpropel wheel-chairs that are available on themarket.

The primaryobject of the invention is 'to provide'aftoy wagon with self-propelling mechanism of a character in keeping with the low investment in the 'toy "and yet suiciently 'sturdy to withstand rough usage by the child.

Another object is to provide a 'toy wagon of theseli`propelled type which presents no danger tothe child and can be operated with little or nopracti'cefinf order to be adaptable 4to even very young children.

Still'another'object is to provide Va childs fourwheel'vehicle with a propelling mechanism which can-be'operated by a simplehand-wheel or lever at the front end of the' vehicle.

Another "object is to provide a child-swagon witha hand-'operated devicefor propelling the wagonfand `for. automatically disengaging the deviceirom .the wheels' when-the Wagon is coast ing.

A still further object is to provide a Vchilds wagon withfa :combined propelling .and braking mechanism vin Vwhich'the brakes lcan be applied by the 'saine hand-operated device which furnishes the propellingpower.

Anotherobjectis -toprovide a childs wagon or similar ltoy'with combined propelling, braking and "coastingfinechanism, operatedV through' a rotating wheeler lever'positioned within convenient reach of` theich'il'd.

`Afstill'iurlther Vobject is to "provide `a driving and steering rriechanisrn for 'a :childs wagon which can zbe readilyJ-appliedto the existing types of 'carts -a'iidfno "radical changes in ldesign need bemadeeXcept-fforthe addition of such mechas' n's'in.

'The iinal object is toprovide a combined handoperated driving, braking andcoasting Vmechanism lwhich i can fbe readily .applied l to la childzs Wagoner-'to Vvehicles occupied by adultsfas wheelchairs,..-

relates to vehiclesof the zzi) Other objects and features will. be apparent :as l

the -specication'is perusedin connection with the accompanying drawingsin which:

Figure V1 represents a perspective view 'of a childs wagonof typical lSize and shape, butprovided with vthe improved propelling and steering i mechanism;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View., partlyinsectionA and .partly in elevation, broken` away vto 'show nerspectively-some of the internal part-s of the improved mechanism;

Figure 3 isa plan View of the yratchetwheel andr associatedfparts forv operatingthefbrake,.such View being taken at about Vthe position indicated by the line 1 S-si Yin YFigure 5; .Figure 3a shows@ detailed section of the pivot element used' inf con-Y nection with the pawl mechanism :for that wheel;

yFigure e representsa sectionalview taken along line lle-4 in Figure 5, showing the brake drum and .theiratchet wheel vwhich kdrives V'the ground wheels;

Figure 51 is a -transverselsec'tional view :but with some or the parts in'e'levation for clear-ness,l taken through :the propelling mechanism at Vabout a position'indicated by the' line Sie-5 in VFigure 11, looking at the 'end of the cart.

Referring toFigs. 1 and reference'character- I designates generally the `cliassisfof a chi-lds wagon of standard construction, including floor boardsZ, tongued sides 3 and'ends 4. -A seat15 having lcleatsfrnay be'provided, this seatbeing 5, and are preferably rubber-tired. The 'rear'. wheels I l are carried on a vrod rI3 which does not4 'rotate but is swivelly'rnounted (not shown) 5in the floor Vboard V2.? andlplate Iymidway ogitl'ie width Vof the cart, yso `that the VwheelsniaybeV swung inthe Vl'iorizt'mtal direction `for kste ei"1n, g' purposes. Any suitable system of levers or 'mechanisms can be provided for moving the 'jrod I3 about its vertical mount and as illustrated, we show a downwardly extending vertical `bar I4 slotted vas at I5 Valong its length "to loosely receive the rod vI3 lat the lower endand pivotedfat .the position I6 to the plate l0. J

There is a long horizontal bar I1 provided with a pin I8 contained within the slot I5 and the forward end of this bar is pivotally attached to the lower end of a lever I9. The latter ls swingably mounted at the pivot attached to the side of the cart and this lever terminates in a handle or grip 2I. Thus, when the child pulls back on the handle 2l, the left-hand wheel II seen in Fig. l, will tend to move forward and the righthand wheel II (not shown) will move rearward, causing the front end or nose of the cart to swerve to the right. An opposite movement of the handle 2| will cause the cart to swing to the left so that complete steerage of the vehicle is conveniently obtained in this manner.

By positioning the steering mechanism at the rear set of wheels instead of at the front set, the latter is left entirely free to receive the improved propelling. coasting and braking mechanism, which will now be described, in a position A that is most convenient to the child driver.

A vertical driving rod 22 is loosely received by an opening in the floor board 2 and the plate I0, this rod being provided at its upper end with a wheel 23 provided with a hand-grip 24.` The rod 22 is held in its proper vertical position by means of a flanged bushing 25 which slidably receives the rod and supports a collar 26 which is pinned or screwed as indicated at 21 to the rod. A similar collar 28 is carried by the rod and abuts the metal plate Il). this collar also being pinned or otherwise secured to the rod as indicated at 28. Thus the entire downward thrust of the rod is accommodated by the surface between the collar 26 and the upper edge of the bushing 25.

'Ihe combined propelling, braking and coasting mechanism is carried on a metal' cradle as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and supported at ,each end by angle iron members 30 (Fig. 5) to which is attached a pair of metal uprights 3| serving as a frame for the front axle. The latter includes a pair of tubular members 32, the inner ends of which are inserted in a completely enclosed metal box or compartment 33 directly under the rod or shaft 22. The outer ends of the tubular member 32 are plugged as indicated at 34 rotatably to receive a rod or shaft 35 constituting the front axle.

Spun metal wheels 38 may be attached to the axle 35 and held in position by a thick washer 31 and a cotter pin 38. A cap 39 may be provided over the washer and secured thereto in any suitable manner, for example by means of a threaded aperture 48 for threadedly engaging the ends of the axle. The cap is desirable to prevent any accidental contact by the child with the spinning cotter pin 38. It also has ornamental purposes. y

The rear wheels II may be secured to the axle I3 by an arrangement such as has been shown and described in connection with Fig. 5. The periphery of the spun wheels 36 may be caused to curve outwardly as indicated at 4I to leave a seat for a solid rubber tire 42.

The front axle 35 and the wheels 36 are given a rotary movement by means of a pair of intermeshing gears 43, 44 contained within the housing 33. Gear 43 is pinned to the axle 35 as indicated at 45 and the gear 44 is pinned as indicated at 46 to the vertical shaft 41. The latter is positioned directly in line with the shaft 22 but is separate from that shaft as will be explained in connection with the remainder of the mechanism.

The left-hand angle iron 30 as seen looking into the front end of the cart is provided with two horizontal rods 48 extending inwardly toward the middle of the cart. These rods loosely receive a vertical plate 49 and there is a compression spring 50 interposed between the inner vertical surface of the angle iron and the immediately adjacent surface of the plate. The plate is therefore permitted to move in the horizontal direction along the rods 48 and against the compression spring. The plate 49 is provided with an integral horizontally extending shelf or ledge 5I which serves as a support for a pawl 52. This pawl is swingably mounted on the ledge 5I by means of a stud 53 which is threaded as indicated at 54 into the ledge.

The pawl 52 is backed by a compression spring 55 contained in a box 56 which is secured to the ledge 5I and a stop pin 51 is provided to prevent any excessive lateral movement of the pawl. The end of the pawl is given any suitable shape so as to fit into the teeth of a ratchet wheel 58 which is provided with a hub 59 pinned to the shaft 22. Consequently, as the Wheel 23 is rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel will exert a pressure on the end of the pawl 52 and cause the plate 49 to move along its rod supports 48 against the spring 50. The spring 55 serves to cause a firm contact between the pawl and the ratchet tooth.

At the lower end of the plate 49 there is a rod 68, this rod having a threaded end to pass loosely through a metal plate 6I to which it is secured by a nut 62. This plate is pivotally mounted on a long pin 63 which passes through a pair of metal blocks 64 secured as by welding to the plate I0. The plate 6I is provided with an inwardly extending projection 65 on which is mounted an asbestos brake shoe 56.

There is a brake drum 61 cooperating with the shoe 66, this drum being adapted to rotate when the driving wheel 23 is turned or when the ground Wheels I2 are rotated and the cart is operated under coasting conditions. Thus when the Wheel 23 is given a short counterclockwise movement to cause the plate 49 to move to the left, as explained hereinbefore, the plate 6I will swing about the pivot rod 63 and cause the shoe 66 to come into close contact with the brake drum 51. The harder the wheel 23 is pulled counter-clockwise. the greater will be this braking effect at the drum so that the child has the wagon under complete control at all times. l

In addition to the ratchet wheel 58, there is a second ratchet wheel 68 pinned as at 69 to the shaft 22. The teeth of the ratchet wheel 88 are directed oppositely from the teeth in the ratchet wheel 58 as can be readily seen in Fig. 2. A pawl 18 is swivelly mounted at 1I on a web 12 which extends across the lower edge of the brake drum 61. This web terminates at the center in a hub 13 which is pinned as at 14 to the shaft 41 and loosely receives the lower end of the shaft 22. Thus the hub serves as a rotating bearing for the shaft 22 and also as a horizontal support for the lower surface of the ratchet wheel 68. As shown in Fig. 4, a spring 15 contained in a spring box 16 bears against the pawl 10 to assure rm contact with one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 68.

For driving the wagon, the wheel 23 is rotated by the handle 24 and if this rotation is in the clockwise direction, it is obvious that the pawlA 52 is not given a leftward motion (as seen in Fig. 2) but instead the ratchet wheel 58 simply clicks in a harmless manner. But the rotation of the shaft 22 causes the ratchet wheel 68 to rotate and applies a pushing force to the pawl 1li. Since this pawl is secured to the web 72, the latter and the brake drum 61 are caused to rotate at the same speed as the ratchet t3 and the shaft 22. The web l2, in being given a clockwise rotation, causes the hub "i3 to rotate and since the latter is pinned to the shaft 5l, the gear 44| is rotated to drive the wheels 35.

Assuming now that the wagon is traveling down a steep hill so that no energy is required for rotating the Wheel 23. Instead of permitting this wheel to be driven by the ground wheels which now become the drivers, we have provided a novei and inexpensive mechanism for permitting the wagon to free-wheel or coast. The rotating power at the ground wheels is carried through the gears 43, 44 to the shaft 4l and thence to the brake drum 5?. The latter is now traveling in such a direction as to pull the pawl l@ away from the teeth of the ratchet wheel |38 and the later does not turn, but only a harmless click is caused. The wheel 23 therefore remains stationary and becomes free from danger even to the youngest child operator.

It will be noted that the braking surface 61 rotates in the same direction when coasting as when being driven by the wheel 23 so that there is no sudden shock to the child in passing from a driving to a coasting condition, as it simply means that the child has chosen not to rotate the driving wheel 23.

If the wagon attains too fast a speed for safety of the child, it is simply necessary for him to pull back on the wheel 23, i. e. move the wheel in the counter-clockwise direction, at which time the brake shoe 65 will be firmly applied against the drum El' to stop the wagon. Any degree of a braking effect may be obtained since the movement of the p-awl 52 in the left-hand direction is gradual, depending on the amount of movement of the wheel 23 as shown in Fig. 3. Consequently, the child is not apt to stop so quickly as to be thrown forward.

It has been explained that the wagon is steered preferably from the rear axle by swinging the latter about a vertical pivot and operable 'at the handle 2|. Consequently, a child would have no difficulty in mastering the combined operation of the driving wheel 23 and the steering handle 2|. By placing the combined propelling, coasting and braking mechanism on the front axle, considerable complications and expense are eliminated since there is no need for a drive shaft running back to the rear axle.

It will be further noted that the gears 43, 44 are contained in a complete enclosure which not only prevents access of a childs finger, but also, if desired, may contain a lubricant. In this case it may be desirable to plug up, as indicated at 11, the adjacent inner ends of the tubular member 32 so as to keep the oil within the box 33. in which case these plugs assist in preventing any whip of the axle 35. The rigidity with which the box 33 is held in position, particularly when the plugs 11 are employed to support the axle,

may be enhanced by the use of ribs 'I8 which extend between the box and inside surface of the uprights 3| to which they may be welded.

While we have shown and described the gearing 43, 44 as constituting two spur gears in mesh, it is evident that if desired a conventional differential mechanism may be employed at this position in order to facilitate the movement of the wagon around sharp corners. However, in general, we have found that the two-gear mechanism is sufficient to negotiate most corners and such mechanism is preferred in view of its simplicity and inexpensiveness.

It is obvious that in order still further to protect the mechanism from the accidental insertion of a childs hand, all of the mechanism including the ratchet wheels 58, 68 and the brake drum 61, may be enclosed by means of a housing (not shown) secured in any suitable manner to th uprights or the angle irons 39.

While we have described our invention as pertaining more particularly to a childs wagon, it will be understood that the mechanism would lend itself to vehicles that are occupied by adults and for any purpose, particularly in the case of wheel-chairs in which the occupant is unable to operate a side drive lever or to turn the circular hand-grip attached to one of the large front wheels.

It will be understood that various modifications and arrangements in structure could be made vwithout departing from the spirit of our invention and, accordingly, we desire to comprehend such modifications and substitutions of equivalents as may be considered to come within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus fully described our invention, what We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A wagon comprising a chassis mounted on wheels, forward and rear, means for driving, coasting and braking the forward wheels, said means comprising a shaft extending upwardly from the chassis and carrying a pair of ratchet wheels, the teeth of which are arranged in opposite directions, one of the ratchet wheels operating through a pawl and movable plate mechanism for applying a braking effect to the forward wheels acting as a driver, and the other ratchet wheel operating through a pawl and an attached plate for driving the front wheels in the forward direction when the shaft is rotating, but permitting a disconnection of this other ratchet wheel when the front wheels become the driver and the last mentioned ratchet wheel is held stationary.

JOSEPH M. WYCHE. CHRISTINE A. WYCHE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 611,154 Symes Sept. 20, 1898 649,631 Doremus May 15, 1900 1,297,449 Czechowicz Mar. 18, 1919 1,510,311 Cru Sept. 30, 1924 

